Former US prosecutor: Justice can’t tolerate alternate facts

NEW YORK (AP) — Former federal prosecutor Preet Bharara (buh-RAH’-ruh) is praising government officials who challenge their superiors.

Manhattan’s former top federal prosecutor didn’t criticize his ex-boss, President Donald Trump, by name in Thursday’s remarks to graduates at the New York Law School. But Bharara cited former FBI director James Comey’s willingness to challenge then-President George W. Bush when he feared an anti-terrorism measure was unconstitutional.

Bharara warned that “groupthink is death to justice and to fairness.”

He added: “Justice cannot tolerate fake news or alternate facts or abuse of power. I hope our leaders get this. I don’t know if they all do.”

The comments come roughly two months after the Trump administration forced Bharara from his post as the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.